Urbanization is rapidly transforming tropical landscapes, profoundly affecting biodiversity. In urban areas, soundscapes are increasingly shaped by anthropogenic noise, which interferes with acoustic communication crucial for many species. These challenges are particularly pronounced in tropical regions, home to the highest levels of biodiversity on the planet. Acoustic studies have emerged as a powerful tool for understanding how wildlife adapts—or fails to adapt—to these altered soundscapes. Despite their importance, research in tropical urban areas remains limited, with significant gaps in our knowledge about how species cope with noise pollution and how this affects ecosystem dynamics. This symposium aims to bring together researchers, students, and conservation practitioners to discuss the role of acoustics in understanding and mitigating the impacts of urbanization on tropical biodiversity. The session will highlight innovative methods and findings, including the use of passive acoustic monitoring, experiments on acoustic plasticity and adaptation, and community-wide soundscape analyses. Presentations will focus on how these tools can inform conservation strategies, such as the design of quieter urban spaces or the identification of biodiversity hotspots within cities.



Key objectives of this symposium:


Highlight cutting-edge acoustic research in urban tropical settings.
Examine conservation impacts of species’ acoustic adaptations and vulnerabilities.
Foster collaborations to expand acoustic studies in underrepresented regions.
Promote interdisciplinary approaches integrating acoustics with ecological and social dimensions of conservation.




The symposium will conclude with a panel discussion to synthesize insights and explore how acoustic studies can bridge the gap between science and policy. It will appeal to ATBC attendees interested in urban ecology, conservation biology, and novel approaches to studying human-nature interactions in tropical regions. By highlighting the untapped potential of acoustics, this session aims to showcase bioacoustics as a powerful tool to inspire a new wave of urban biodiversity research and action in the tropics.